Radiator cap



June 14, 1932. I A. G. GEISTERT ET AL 1,863,009

RADIATOR CAP Filed. April 11, 1929 amnion.

' Patented June 14, 1932 TES ALBERT G. GEISTER'E AND ARTHUR J. AIJTZ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGINORS TO.

PATENT OFFICE GENERAL MOTORS COBEORATION, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE RADIATOR CA]? Application filed April 11,

1Q neck or collar element, in such manner as to obviate risk of loss, theft or damage; and means whereby a relatively slight angular rotation thereof is effective for a latchingor unlatching effect. Accordingly, preferred embodiments of this invention may include a bent or other interior link or links extend ing between a radial or other lug upon saidannular body or collar and a central or other inwardly projecting post provided upon said cap element; and said post may rigidly carry a three-point or other. radial finger interlocking cam element adaptedto engage corresponding inwardly projecting cam elements upon said body or collar and, in preferred embodiments of the inventiomsaid radial finger cam element beingcentrally positioned .and a link-carrier being rotatably mounted upon said post, said radial finger cam element and said link may be respectively provided with means for limiting the mentioned rotative movement thereb etween. I

It will be seen that the mentioned link connection may amount to a two-pivot. hinge relatively to which said camplate has a lim- 35 ited movement of rotation for a latching andunlatching effect, the limitation of said angular rotation being such that any ornament upon said cap may remain in a gen erally forward-facing position; and other objects of this invention, including a novel arrangement of gaskets and cooperating parts adapted either to permit escape of stearn'or to obviate leakage even under comparatively high pressures, may be best appreciated from the following description of an illustrative embodiment. of said invention, taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View, taken substantially as indicated by the line 11 1929. Serial No. 354,260.

of Fig. 3, but showing an ornamental head inconsistently with said figure,features of ornamentation being relatively immaterial to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view, also taken in a vertical plane, showing the cap element as unseated (and not in section).

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view, taken substantially as indicated by the arrow 3 of Fig. 1; and Figs. 4 and 5 show alternative details.

Referring to specific details of that embodiment of the present invention which has been chosen for purposes of illustration, a tubular passage or neck element 11, presumably communicating with a radiator, or the like, is shown as surmounted by an'annular body or collar 12,t0 which it may be threaded, as indicated at 13, and/or secured by means such as a set screw or set screws 14 (preferably using lead balls, in a known manner). Said collar is shown as'providing seats for both a downwardly-facing gasket element 15, engaged by the tubular element 11, and an upwardly-facing gasket 16, adapt ed to be engaged by a capelement 17 or by an interior finishing plate 18, if provided thereon.

The annular body or collar 12 is shown as provided with three equidistant and inwardly extending rigid cam lugs 19, for a latching engagement with a cooperating part such as a three-point radial-finger interlocking cam element in the form of a plate 20; and this plate may advantageously be non-rotatively supported relatively to the cap element 17, or its equivalent, by means such as a post 21, including an inward extension 22 and corresponding in length to the thickness of collar 12 or lugs 19.

To prevent complete separation and loss of a capelement 17, or its equivalent, means such as a bent or other link or links may be,

employed,the' link 23 being shown as pivoted at 24 to a lug carried by the collar 12 and as secured at its free or inner end, by means of an additional pivot 25, to a so-called link carrier 26,- the latter permitting a limited axial rotation of the cap 17 relatively thereto. For the purposes last referred to, a flanged bushing or bearing element 27 being optionally interposed and the post extension 22 being preferably swaged or headed down or spun over the flange of said bearing element, the radial finger plate is shown (see Fi g. 3) as provided with a slot 28 into which extends an upwardly bent lug 29, integral with the link carrier 26; and, if desired, in case the interior finishing plate 18 is employed,,.a tubular portion 30 thereof may receive an additional annular gasket 31, immediately surrounding the post 21. The plate 18 may serve to conceal and protect mentioned parts; and a downwardly rounded annular bead may be provided thereon, as indicated at 32, for either a positive or a yielding engagement with thewgasket 16, or its equivalent.

Plate 20 may be secured against rotation relatively to the cap element '17 by means such as a key 33, entering a notch therein; the length and position of slot 28 may limit rotation of the cap in opening and closmg the same; and anadditional stop or stops 34, provided on one of the cam lugs 12?, may be employed to check the locking rotat on of the cap (preferably inia position wherein thecap ornament, if any, faces straight ahead) when engaged by a finger 20 on plate 20.

As suggested in Fig. 4, in case the post extension is required to be formed from a stronger material than that from which the body of the cap or a post 21a may be cast, said extension may comprise an insert a, formed of steel and including a non-circular portion 36a,this insert being finally headed orspun over to retain the bearing flange 27 This permits rotation of the link-carrier 2606 while the plate 20a is held stationary by a key 33a, or its equivalent.

In Fig. 5, a post extension is shown as alternatively formed from a screw 35b, adapted to bind the plate 20?) said screw being shown as provided with a head 376,, with a bearing shoulder 38b for the reception of link carrier 267), wih a nick 39b for engagement by a screwdriver or other setting tool, and an inclined or other passage for the reception of a retaining element such as a driven pin or plug or key 405.

The mode of operation of the novel cap organization upon which protection is herein sought having been fully indicated in connection with the description thereof, coneluding emphasis may be placed upon the ruggedness and reliability of the described construction, upon the simplicity of its operation, obviating the tedious and annoying necessity for any unscrewing operation, and

upon the fact that, a surmounting ornament being at all times retained in a generally forward-facing position, a very slight an gular rotation of the cap element serves to latch and unlatch the same,the mentioned double pivot-hinge or linkage being so proportioned as to permit the cap element to swing to an out-of-the-way position in which it is self-retained by gravity.

Although the foregoing description has referred in detail to but one specific embodiment of the present invention, it should be understood that various features thereof may be capable of independent use and also that numerous modifications might easily be devised, all without involving the slightest departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

WVe claim:

1. In a radiator cap organization: a cap element which is interiorly provided with radial retaining fingers; a collar comprising parts engageable thereby; and pivot-a1 means comprising an interior link, for limiting the removal of said cap relatively .tosaid collar,- said cap being interiorly provided with a post carrying some of said cam means and provided with an extension with which said pivotal means is rotatively connected by means of a link carrier which is provided with means for limiting its relative rotation.

2. In a radiator cap organization; a cap secured by means permitting both .a pivotal and a rotational movement thereof; and means for limiting said rotational movement when said cap is inan elevated position.

3. In a radiator cap organization: .a cap secured by means permitting both a pivotal and a. rotational movement thereof; means for limiting said rotational movement when said cap is in an elevated position; and separate means for limiting said rotational movement when said cap is in closed position.

4. In a radiator cap organization: a cap secured by means permitting both a pivotal and a rotational movement thereof; means for limiting said rotational movement when said cap is in an elevated position; and separate means for limiting said rotational move ment when said cap :is in closed position,- said securing means including a plurality of radial cam fingers and said separate limiting means including a fixed stop engageabl'e by one of said fingers.

5. In a structure which is adapted to be applied to and close a tubular element, a sleeve adapted to be secured to the tubular element, a cover adapted to engage anend of thesleeve, an element pivotally connected to the cover, a link pivotally connected to the sleeveand to the element and means to limit rotation of the cover with respect to the cure the cover to the sleeve by rotation of the cover.

7. In a structure which is adapted to be applied to and close a tubular element, a sleeve adapted to be secured to the tubular element, a cover adapted to engage an end of the sleeve, an element pivotally connected to the cover, a link pivotally connected to the sleeve and to the element, means to secure the cover in engagement with the sleeve by rotation of the cover, means to limit rotation of the cover with respect to the element, and means independent of the last mentioned means to limit rotation of the cover with respect to the sleeve.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

ALBERT G. GEISTERT. ARTHUR J. ALTZ. 

